adminMany politicians have been on the campaign trail echoing the same message at their rallies. One politician in Mashonaland West province went so far as to warn the would be perpetrators of violence that the avenging spirit will not attack the party but the one who would have committed the crime.
He went further to say that if anyone commits a crime at the instigation of another person, the one who commits the crime will have to pay for it if the avenging spirit goes after him or her. Stories abound about people who committed heinous crimes who have been visited by avenging spirits for retribution and have paid dearly in the form of cattle, money and other property.
Therefore, the politics of peace and reconciliation should be the cornerstone of the forthcoming elections. Just like the President warned, it is not at the harmonised elections only where violence must not be allowed to raise its head, but also at the selection of candidates for each party.
The primary elections shall serve as a dress rehearsal for the general elections. Zimbabwe is not the only country with parties that choose their candidates through primary elections. Other countries do the same, but in a peaceful way where the losing candidates rally behind the winners.
After 33 years of independence, surely, we Zimbabweans must be mature enough to understand the politics of peace and co-existence. Leaders of political parties, we are always reminded, share meals together at every opportunity discussing the affairs of state.
But, is it not surprising that, members of various political parties have to be reminded all the time not to fight against each other? Yes, it has been said that supporters of rival football teams sometimes trade blows on the terraces when passions run high, but such behaviour has been known to be punished by the football authorities of the club and associations.
Many blame such behaviour on hooligans or people with scatter brains. In politics, a card-carrying member must be a disciplined cadre who knows that it is better to persuade rather than to force any other person to accept his/her opinion.
With the passion of celebrating our independence still fresh in our minds, this coming election should be a landmark in the history of our democracy to show the world and those who wish us evil that we have definitely come of age in pursuit of our happiness and freedom.
Different policies will be propagated by the various political candidates and their parties, but the central issue is that this campaign must be carried out in dignity. There is a lot of difference between expounding the different policies than insulting each other.
One political leader once said that when politics becomes personal, then there is no substance in the person who propagates such a line of attack.
One interesting thing in a presidential system of government is the way a party positions itself. All efforts are in electing a president, not that other candidates are not important, but, in a presidential system, the president is the ultimate authority through which the country is governed. That’s why in the USA the president may get a majority in congress for his party, but all other parties will respect him as their president despite the loss of a parliamentary majority.
All efforts must go towards electing a president.
The small parties that do not stand a chance of electing their leaders as president may be just enjoying their inalienable right to put themselves before the electorate in a free and peaceful country.
A peaceful campaign is where the candidates talk directly to the people either at rallies, which are known to be colourful events, or to talk to small audiences where those in attendance can ask questions or expound their policies in interviews with the media.
What promotes peace is where all political activities are monitored by the police or other law enforcement agencies. Why should the police be invited to football matches not to political gatherings? If peace is that important at football matches, then peace must be important at political meetings.
Just like members of the same family belong to different football teams, different churches, or belong to different social cultures or standings, the same should happen with politics.
Holding a different opinion should in itself not invite any violent actions. People from various political persuasions must learn to disagree peacefully.
Politics requires mature people who have experience to guide the country and lead the people and create a peaceful environment in which people can enhance their livelihoods.
Those who think that politics is about fighting after achieving independence through an armed struggle, and were not there in the trenches of the liberation movement, should not tempt fate but must heed the President’s call to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner either in the primaries and in the forthcoming general elections.
Online Reporter